Enrolment & staffing · K-12 education statistics
Average daily attendance(ADA)
The average number of students actually present per school day across the year.
Average daily attendance is total student days present divided by the number of days school was in session. Unlike enrolment, it reflects attendance across the whole year rather than a single count date.
ADA matters because many states distribute funding on it rather than on enrolment. Two districts with identical enrolment can receive materially different money if one has weaker attendance, which is part of why chronic absenteeism has a direct budget consequence and not only an academic one.
Also known as: ADA, daily attendance.
See average daily attendance in the data
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Average daily attendance — FAQ
What is average daily attendance in school and district data?+
The average number of students actually present per school day across the year. Average daily attendance is total student days present divided by the number of days school was in session. Unlike enrolment, it reflects attendance across the whole year rather than a single count date.
Why does average daily attendance matter?+
ADA matters because many states distribute funding on it rather than on enrolment. Two districts with identical enrolment can receive materially different money if one has weaker attendance, which is part of why chronic absenteeism has a direct budget consequence and not only an academic one.
Where does this school and district data come from?+
Core statistics come from the National Center for Education Statistics — the Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Civil Rights Data Collection. The most recent graduation rates and state report-card outcomes come directly from state education agencies, which publish sooner than the federal series. pumsdata is independent and not affiliated with NCES or any state agency.